Jonathan Quick makes a save on Mats Zuccarello during his 32-save Game 3 shutout of the Rangers.
AP Photo/Frank Franklin II

Jonathan Quick stopped all 32 shots in backstopping the Kings to a 3-0 shutout over the Rangers in Game 3 at a stunned MSG. He was busiest in the second making 17 of his 32 stops. The Kings got goals from Jeff Carter, Jake Muzzin and Mike Richards to move one win away from a second Stanley Cup in three years. They put the Rangers on the brink. On Wednesday, they’ll try to extend the series. Thus far, they’re 4-0 when facing elimination. It’s now become about getting one game.

There really isn’t much to say about last night. Simply put, they were outplayed by a better team. Even with a 32-15 edge in shots-on-goal, you never got the sense they’d ever score on Quick, who has outshined Henrik Lundqvist. Lundqvist allowed three goals on 15 shots and was unable to make the key save. While hard to fault him, he hasn’t delivered in this series. Quick’s made the clutch stops. Even if I felt most of his saves weren’t spectacular, the former Conn Smythe winner has had the edge.

We got there pretty early for warm ups. The building really filled up. There were plenty of “Let’s Go Rangers” chants with most settling into their seats. It was definitely a different vibe in the air. You could tell by the buzz and how everyone seemed to be waiting in great anticipation for player intros. I was able to capture most of it on my IPhone including John Amirante’s national anthem and chants up to the opening faceoff. I’ll post it on YouTube and link it up in another blog. I figured this much. No matter what happens, you only get to see your team play for the Cup so many times. Savor it.

The first period was odd. There were hardly any shots and little occupying space. If the Kings accomplished one goal, it was eliminating odd-man rushes and neutralizing the Rangers forecheck. In what can best be summed up as a defensive minded period, the teams combined for nine shots with the Kings holding a 5-4 edge. Unfortunately, their fifth shot came off the dangerous stick of Carter, who managed to beat Lundqvist with 0.7 seconds left. Justin Williams again made the play. Taking a Slava Voynov pass, he dropped for Carter, who John Moore gave too much room. Carter’s shot deflected off a sliding Dan Girardi giving the Kings a crushing 1-0 lead at the conclusion of the first.

A back breaker that never should’ve happened. The Rangers had just completed the first of six power play failures. When it comes to their struggles, it’s basically a power outage. Going 0-for-6, they’re now an exasperating 1-for-14 in the series. Alain Vigneault’s insistence on rolling out Brad Richards (8:47 PP time) has reached a boiling point. At least he finally tried Rick Nash (2:18) on a couple. Their inability to build any momentum off it has really proved costly. They’re way too deliberate and never get traffic in front of Quick making it a breeze. The Kings penalty kill took chances later and were more dangerous shorthanded.

Complicating matters, the Rangers got into penalty trouble. Following a successful kill of a Ryan McDonagh high sticking minor, Marc Staal went to the box for the same penalty. It only took 59 seconds for Muzzin to fire a shot through a Carter screen past Lundqvist that increased the Kings’ lead to 2-0 at 4:17 of the second. Anze Kopitar and Marian Gaborik drew the helpers. What was really frustrating is the lack of coverage on Carter. He’s the Kings’ most imposing forward. How was he left all by his lonesome to distract Lundqvist? Even from the second to last row in Section 419, it sure looked like he tipped it. Maybe it’ll get changed. Without Carter’s work in front, it never happens.

At that point, everyone knew the Rangers were in deep trouble. Sensing it, the crowd immediately cheered. We tried our best to rally them. Even on a night where they didn’t have their skating legs, there were plenty of “Let’s Go Rangers” chants from a desperate crowd who would’ve given anything to see their team come back. It wasn’t like they didn’t try. They fired 17 shots on Quick in the second but were unable to beat him. His best save came on Mats Zuccarello, who had him dead to rights but an acrobatic Quick somehow got his goalie stick on a stuff attempt sending it just wide. He also stoned Derick Brassard on a power play. My biggest gripe is he was unable to aim high. I felt most of the Rangers’ shots were low with no one able to get to loose pucks. Facing one of the game’s best, that can’t happen.

Most exhausting is that LA kept taking penalties giving the Rangers every opportunity. They didn’t take advantage failing on three more power plays. Carl Hagelin took a frustration slashing minor to end one. He and linemates Richards and Martin St. Louis struggled at even strength for a second consecutive game. Richards and St. Louis were each minus-one while Hagelin went minus-two despite four shots. He only received 18 shifts (10:24 TOI). Vigneault shortened his bench giving Brian Boyle 16 shifts (10:29) and Derek Dorsett 10 shifts (5:41). Dominic Moore (10:22) saw some shifts in place of Richards.

Carl Hagelin can’t look as the Kings celebrate a goal.
AP Photo/Kathy Willens

Despite only getting eight shots, the Kings were opportunistic beating Lundqvist twice. That included Mike Richards’ backbreaking goal that came with 2:46 left to put LA in full control leading by three. The ex-Flyer scored on a broken play. On a two-on-one, he centered for Kyle Clifford but had his pass bank off McDonagh’s skate right back to him for an easy finish. It was that kind of night for the Blueshirts. As Girardi alluded to in the postgame, the bounces have gone to the Kings. But as Richards also noted, you make your own breaks. Credit LA for taking full advantage of every Ranger mistake. Their championship experience has shown.

The third was pointless. It’s not that we gave up. We stayed and continued to cheer our players hoping they’d get one and make it a game. Ironically, Chris Kreider got the best chance on the opening shift when he broke in on Quick but could only muster a weak shot due to a strong backcheck. An easy save for Quick. That was it.

Sure. The Rangers got another 10 on him outshooting a conservative Kings 11-2. They were more than willing to sit back and take away the blueline. Every time a Ranger had a chance, there were two or three guys in white and black keeping them on the perimeter. It was an identical script to that awful Game 3 loss against the Pens in the second round. The only difference is the Kings used their size to keep our guys from getting any quality chances.

Quick was good. But he didn’t exactly stand on his head. That’s the disappointing aspect. It’s one thing to lose against a better team. But quite another when you don’t give your best effort. I felt the Rangers would win Game 3 and play with a lot more pride. Instead, they looked disjointed and tired. Now, there’s no room for the weary. They can either remember what got them here and show tremendous pride by winning Game 4 for as Lundqvist put it, “the fans.” Or they can curl up and be viewed as a footnote to another Kings Cup. The choice is theirs.

BONY 3 Stars:

3rd Star-Mats Zuccarello, NYR (4 SOG, game high 6 hits in 26 shifts-21:36-give him an A)

2nd Star-Jonathan Quick, LAK (32 save shutout incl. 17/17 in 2nd-think Richter)

1st Star-Jeff Carter, LAK (GWG-10th, 4 SOG, +1 in 24 shifts-15:01-flat out dominant)